See the most beautiful 'old town version' in Hoi An after 25 years of receiving UNESCO heritage title

Many people who come to Hoi An mistake the street across the Hoai River for the old town. However, it is just a 'closer version' of the walking street, which was born from a stilt house area of ​​fishermen.

Streets on the south bank of the Hoai River (a branch of the Thu Bon River flowing through Hoi An). This area belongs to zone 2 of Hoi An ancient town, not in the center of the ancient town - Photo: BD

Talking about Hoi An 25 years after UNESCO listed Hoi An as a World Cultural Heritage (December 4, 1999), Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee, said that thanks to the heritage, the Hoi An community has changed its face.

From fishing village to bustling tourist city

Thanks to the attraction of heritage, Hoi An city has successfully cleared and planned a slum area of ​​boatmen and workers on the other side of the Hoai River.

An Hoi, Dong Hiep is now bustling, and almost always lit up day and night to welcome tourists. People from far away, when walking along the Hoai River on Nguyen Phuc Chu Street, will find it difficult to realize that this is not the old town, but just "a close version of the old town".

Located in the lower reaches of the Thu Bon River, Quang Nam Province, Hoi An Ancient Town is about 30km south of Da Nang City center. The ancient town belongs to Minh An Ward with an area of ​​about 2km². Hoi An Ancient Town is located on main roads close to the riverbank such as Bach Dang, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phan Chau Trinh, Tran Hung Dao, Tran Phu, Le Loi... - Screenshot from Google Maps

Night market combining cuisine, sightseeing and shopping on the south bank of Hoai River - Photo: BD

According to the Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee, in 2005, when Hoi An attracted visitors from all over the world to come and enjoy the heritage space, he realized that if the slum area on the other side of Hoai River was cleared and planned beautifully, it would create a great livelihood for the community.

Hoi An city was determined to clear the area and it took a very long time. After the street was finished, many people returned and did not even recognize the place where they had lived.

A Closer Look at Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Night Market on Nguyen Phuc Chu Street on the other side of the river belongs to area 2 of Hoi An ancient town, not in the core area of ​​the ancient town – Google Maps screenshot

“The ancient house complex of Hoi An is only contained in a small space, but any planning must adhere to the space of the ancient town so as not to destroy the landscape.

When clearing and rearranging the space of Dong Hiep, An Hoi, the city also clearly defined which places could be built with concrete and which places had to use wooden structures and Hoi An's characteristic yin-yang tiles.

From there, all the paths, houses, accommodation areas or restaurants… have similar elements, closest to the image of Hoi An.

Nowadays, when visitors go from the old town to An Hoi bridge, the space is similar and continues in harmony.

People on the other side of An Hoi Bridge now live mainly on tourism, their lives are very comfortable. This is a very successful clearance and planning project that Hoi An has implemented" - Mr. Son said.

The center of the walking street on the north bank and surrounding areas – Photo: BD

Hoi An Heritage marks 25 years of UNESCO recognition

On December 4, 1999, Hoi An ancient town and My Son temple complex were recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Cultural Heritage network.

On the morning of December 4, at the meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hoi An being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, the UNESCO representative in Vietnam assessed that Hoi An is the most typical example in demonstrating the determination to preserve and promote heritage values.

The success of Hoi An heritage conservation is a result of a smooth combination of government and community consensus.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ngam-phien-ban-pho-co-dep-nhat-o-hoi-an-sau-25-nam-nhan-danh-hieu-di-san-unesco-20241204153032754.htm